My ear for storytelling was crafted by my grandpa’s elaborate Hulk stories. The cadence of his words, the beat of the story, and the pacing made Pop-Pop’s stories rivetting. He used clipped sentences approaching the story’s climax, and everything slowed to happily ever after (even hulks need some down time). I remember the satisfaction the stories gave me.

When I was in the third grade, I was sick with pneumonia for several weeks. Bored, I put my boom box beside the television (come on people, don’t judge the 80s technology) and recorded movies. Then, I wrote down the characters name and what they said. To this day, I can quote The Wizard of Oz until they leave Munchkinland, and if we ever meet, I’ll prove it. My first screenplay.

I remember watching the same movies over and over again as a kid: Back to the Future, Star Wars, ET, and Rocky. Every Christmas I watched It’s a Wonderful Life about fifty times. And don’t get me started on The Princess Bride. Watching the same movies over and over taught me about plot. Instinctively, when I write I can feel when it’s time for a plot twist, when I’m nearing the climax, and at the resolution.

Of course, I read a lot too, which every good writer must. I would spend my alone time reading and writing short stories in different colored crayons about candy mansions and pet monkeys and Betty Brown Bikini Bear’s trip to the beach. I compiled them into a binder (in rainbow-color order) and produced my first anthology.

So from a young age, I studied the craft of storytelling. I used other author’s characters to learn character. I mimicked their style, recycled their settings, and mastered true dialogue. I trained my ear by listening to Pop-Pop’s stories, and I understood plot by watching the same movies over and over again. Today, I’ve applied these same techniques to analyze the Bible from an author’s perspective, a look at Genesis as more than the word of God, but also as God’s words.

Challenge:

Take one of my techniques and apply it:

Write a short story using another author’s characters.

Mimic a writer’s voice and style by copying a chapter from their book onto paper.

Use someone else’s setting and write your own story.

Listen to audio books or watch your favorite move with a notebook to trace plot.

What has helped craft your story-telling techniques?

Jaimie Engle is a regular conference speaker, writing instructor, and classroom guest across the state of Florida. Her non-fiction work has appeared multiple times on Writer’s Digest, The Dr. Laura Program, and in publications through the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. She has independently published multiple award-winning novels and blogs monthly for YA Outside the Lines. Her non-fiction book Writing Your Novel: using the Bible as your guide is a study of story technique throughout the book of Genesis for authors interested in learning God's words in a different light. When not writing, Engle podcasts, cosplays, and spends time with her family. Follow on Instagram @thewriteengle.